Norwegian Correspondent Killed in Bangkok

Tributes were flowing in yesterday for a popular and highly regarded Norwegian correspondent killed in a road accident in central Bangkok early on Sunday morning, The Nation reports.

06.01.2010 | Morten Scheelsbeck

Friends and colleagues were shocked to hear that Torgeir Norling, 37, had died after being hit by a bus near the Rajprasong intersection not far from the Erawan Shrine just before dawn, Jim Pollard from The Nation reported yesterday.

Tor, as he was known, was a veteran of combat zones around the world, having reported in Iraq, Afghanistan, East Timor, Sri Lanka, Aceh as well as autonomous regions in north-eastern Burma.

A resident in Thailand for close to 10 years, he became well-known after helping to set up the Rain Dogs bar off Rama IV Road. It became a popular haunt of writers, photographers and musicians, with regular screenings of documentaries, photo shows and bands.

Norling, just back from a trip home to see his family and friends (his father was also a journalist), wrote mainly for Norwegian and Scandinavian papers and magazines.

He was well regarded for his reports on human rights abuses and the traumas endured in areas of conflict. Indeed, many were surprised that a man who appeared not to fear the dangers of war should suffer such a fate.

Andrew Marshall, the British author and correspondent for Time, said, according to The Nation: “The journalism community is reeling, and not just here in Bangkok. Tor was a brave and passionate reporter, a foreign correspondent to the core, whose job took him to difficult and dangerous places worldwide. He was much loved and will be missed in many countries.”

In a note on Facebook, film cameraman Richie Moore said his friend was “fearless” and determined “about telling these stories that we so desperately need to hear”.

Police at Lumpini station are believed to have charged the driver of the bus which struck Norling, although exact details about the crash are still vague.

Colleagues said he was walking home after a late night with friends.

Norling is survived by his Thai wife Jum and son Trym, 3. A service with Buddhist rites is expected to be held at Klong Toei Nai temple in the coming days.

Source: http://www.scandasia.com/viewNews.php?coun...mp;news_id=5861

Requiat in pacem.

Shame that a veteran combat zone-correspondent is killed by a madly driven bus in a 'tourist location'. There are dangers and then there are dangers...

RIP Tor.

What a terrible irony, he survives numerous war zones around the world only to die at the hands of a careless Bangkok bus driver when on holiday at home, how very sad. RIP

Requiescat in Pacem

Ironic to go like that. Gen. Patton survived WWII only to be run over and killed by a jeep shortly thereafter.

It would be nice if just once you xenophobic morons refrained from filling a ThaiVisa forum thread with your ignorant and angry drivel?

You know none of the details of the accident that killed Tor. It could have been dangerous driving, it could have been mechanical failure or Tor himself could simply have made a mistake.

Stories like this are sad enough without your painfully weak egos always needing to capitalize on them.

Well said.

Requiat in pacem.

I think you mean Requiescat in pace

Yes, RIP to him

My condolences to the family, friends, colleagues and numerous others who will miss him.

RIP

Kondolanser til alle some kjenner han.

Ironic to go like that. Gen. Patton survived WWII only to be run over and killed by a jeep shortly thereafter.

Patton was not run over by a jeep. People really ought to learn to work with facts.

What a terrible tragedy. My respects to family & friends.

It would be nice if just once you xenophobic morons refrained from filling a ThaiVisa forum thread with your ignorant and angry drivel?

You know none of the details of the accident that killed Tor. It could have been dangerous driving, it could have been mechanical failure or Tor himself could simply have made a mistake.

Stories like this are sad enough without your painfully weak egos always needing to capitalize on them.

Ironic to go like that. Gen. Patton survived WWII only to be run over and killed by a jeep shortly thereafter.

Patton was not run over by a jeep. People really ought to learn to work with facts.

Wow, so sorry. The generally accepted (official) story is that he died as a result of injuries from an auto accident with a military vehicle. He was not run over by a jeep, you're right.

It would be nice if just once you xenophobic morons refrained from filling a ThaiVisa forum thread with your ignorant and angry drivel?

You know none of the details of the accident that killed Tor. It could have been dangerous driving, it could have been mechanical failure or Tor himself could simply have made a mistake.

Stories like this are sad enough without your painfully weak egos always needing to capitalize on them.

''Police at Lumpini station are believed to have charged the driver of the bus which struck Norling''

So its moronic to say killed by crazy driver?

Even if cause and fault has not been fully discovered , defending some Bangkok bus driver would not be high on my list having lived in the city.

I met Tor a handful of times at my friend's house and he was a lovely man. Humorous, congenial and good fun. Some of my friends are very, very sad about what has happened. It is a time to wish him a safe passage and to remember that we should all see out friends more often - coz we really never know when (or "If") we will ever see them again.

May you rest in peace, Tor. Sorry to know you have left so soon!

''Police at Lumpini station are believed to have charged the driver of the bus which struck Norling''

So its moronic to say killed by crazy driver?

Yes, it is.

Even if cause and fault has not been fully discovered , defending some Bangkok bus driver would not be high on my list having lived in the city.

I am sure the bus driver in question lies awake at night wishing he had your support. Congratulations. I created a thread just for you. Have a cookie!

RIP to the deceased.

Underlining the irony in his tragic death, after surviving through many really dangerous ares/times, has nothing moronic or egotistic. Those who make these angry personal attacks do have some problems to fix with themselves first, for sure.

Tor, your works speak now for you.

See photo of Tor here

http://www.scandasia.com/scandAsiaNews.php?coun_code=th

It would be nice if just once you xenophobic morons refrained from filling a ThaiVisa forum thread with your ignorant and angry drivel?

You know none of the details of the accident that killed Tor. It could have been dangerous driving, it could have been mechanical failure or Tor himself could simply have made a mistake.

Stories like this are sad enough without your painfully weak egos always needing to capitalize on them.

"bravo!"

RIP to a man of true words!

Tor, your works speak now for you.

See photo of Tor here

http://www.scandasia.com/scandAsiaNews.php?coun_code=th

Thanks for link. More fitting than arguing over who is at fault etc.

Police at Lumpini station are believed to have charged the driver of the bus which struck Norling, although exact details about the crash are still vague. Colleagues said he was walking home after a late night with friends.

Norling is survived by his Thai wife Jum and son Trym, 3

And there's the tragedy, a 3 year that loses his Dad. Heartbreaking.

Edited January 6, 201016 yr by geriatrickid

He was a good fella; and is wife Jum delightful. There are some nice tributes on his Facebook page, including ones by Jonathan Head (BBC, now in Istanbul), Richard Lloyd-Parry plus others that talk about his adventures working in places not far from conflict, such as Timor in 1999, Sri Lanka, etc. I think he was caught in a police station somewhere that was attacked by rebels, plus taken hostage in Aceh while researching a story about women raped by the Indon military.

A man with strong values and great humanity. RIP my friend.

Irrawaddy website has links to two reports he did for them.. one on the crisis in Sri Lanka.

First Rain Dogs gets closed by the police, now its founder deceases.

Truly bad times for bohemian Bangkok.

Ironic to go like that. Gen. Patton survived WWII only to be run over and killed by a jeep shortly thereafter.

Actually Patton died of an embolism brought on by whiplash injuries sustained in a minor crash between his Staff car (a sedan) and an army truck

My sympathies to all who will miss him. May he RIP.

//Back on track please and stay on topic.//

Thx

R.I.P!!

06.01.2010 | Morten Scheelsbeck

and a message to all: always look 3+ times before stepping on the roadway..

RIP

Tor was a good man , my sympathies goes to his family, wife and kid.

Edited January 6, 201016 yr by balo

off topic--lets not get sidetracked by patton, thanks--sbk

Sorry so off topic. My condolences to Tor's friends and family.